College left-hander and 3 righties in 1st 6 rounds should boost depth quickly in high minors

While power-hitting third baseman Kris Bryant is the centerpiece of the Cubs' draft, scouting czar Jason McLeod says it was the haul of college pitchers that put a smile on President Theo Epstein's face at the end of the first 10 rounds.

Missouri left-hander Rob Zastryzny, selected with the 41st overall pick, was a high-priority target and the Cubs were thrilled when Kent State right-hander Tyler Skulina, Texas Tech right-hander Trey Masek and Pepperdine right-hander Scott Frazier were available in rounds four to six.

"Last year we took a lot of high school pitchers,'' said McLeod, the Cubs' head of scouting and player development. "This year we decided we wanted to go with more advanced pitchers.''

Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer are looking for pitching depth in the high minors, with prospects pushing for big-league jobs. Zastryzny could get a chance to come quickly, even though he didn't experience a lot of success at Missouri, a second-tier program.

Some considered him a reach but the scouting service Perfect Game had projected him to go as high as the second round after a strong finish to this season. He generates some comparison to Mark Buehrle a decade ago but McLeod points out he is taller and may throw harder.

Like a young Buehrle, he has an advanced feel for a changeup he can throw 10-12 mph slower than his fastball and he works quickly.

"You have to look deeper (than his results in college),'' McLeod said in reference to Zastrzny's 2-9 record and 3.38 ERA this season. "He gave up 10 home runs this season. I saw him give up three in a game at Vanderbilt and I still walked away going, 'This guy's interesting.'"

The draft completed Saturday, with the Cubs making 30 picks in the lightning rounds. They took San Diego right-hander Michael Wagner, a teammate of Bryant's, and the lyrically named Daniel Poncedeleon, a right-hander out of Houston.

Perhaps they think he will lead them to the fountain of youth.

Extra innings: Jeff Samardzija blamed a lack of location on his fastball for his allowing four runs in six innings in the 6-2 loss to the Pirates, only seeming to settle in after Pedro Alvarez's long home run to right field in the fourth. He said he stopped trying to throwing his two-seam sinker and went with a four-seamer exclusively after the Alvarez home run. … Russell Martin's two-run homer off Hector Rondon was the 100th of his career. … Alfonso Soriano's homer in the ninth was his 379th, tying him with Orlando Cepeda and Tony Perez for 64th all time. … The Cubs fell to 2-29 when they allow four or more runs.